Imperial County, CA Biographies
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta, January, 2007.
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
HENRY HARTWELL HOWELL, SR.
The history of Imperial County would not be complete without
the name of Henry Hartwell Howell, Sr., a successful rancher owning eighty acres
of land in Water Company No. 8, at Brawley. Dr. Howell can rightly be classed
among the enterprising and progressive citizens of Imperial Valley. He came to
Imperial County in September, 1908, and was born in Pope County, Arkansas, July
20, 1846, the son of James A. and Sarah E. Howell. Both passed away and are
buried near Modesto, California. The family is of old Scotch-English origin.
With his parents, Henry H. migrated from Arkansas at the age of seven years.
California was the magnet which drew their footsteps westward. The subject of
this sketch received his education near Stockton, California, in the public
schools and the S. M. institution, also known as the Pacific Methodist College,
at Vacaville, California. In 1879 he graduated from the medical branch of the
University of California with a degree of M. D. Following this he devoted his
time largely to the study of medicine and practiced his profession for ten years
at Bishop, California. Teaching school was also one of Dr. Howell's professions
at this time. Since giving up the practice of medicine Dr. Howell has turned to
practical farming and has been thus engaged ever since. When he first came to
the Valley he rented land until he purchased his present property, which was in
1914. He has improved his ranch and has one of the most valuable holdings in the
county. In addition to this he owns eighteen acres near Fullerton, California.
Politically he is a Prohibitionist. He was married at San Francisco, December
31, 1875, to Miss S. G. Summers, a daughter of Dr. G. M. and Amanda Summers,
both of whom are buried at Fresno, California. To this union six children have
been born: Mabel C., wife of W. T. Morris of Kern County; Thurman B., a rancher
of Orange County, California; Ethel G., wife of George M. Warren, lieutenant in
the home guards at Portland, Oregon; Frank T., employed in the ship-yards at San
Pedro; Jessie L., wife of Arthur D. Evers, interested in the ship chandlery
business; and Henry H. Howell, Jr., located at the submarine base at San Pedro,
California. Dr. Howell is a member of the State and American Medical Society. It
has been primarily through the individual efforts of Dr. Howell that he has
achieved the success which is rightly his due. He is conscientious, and
enterprising, and influential citizen and is always foremost among those who are
constantly boosting for better conditions in the county at large.
Source: "The History of Imperial County, California," Elms and Franks Publ. Co.,
1918, pp. 434-435.